Intel, Samsung, others form WiMax 2 consortium

LONDON  Alvarion, Beceem, GCT Semiconductor, Intel, Motorola, Samsung, Sequans, XRONet and ZTE as well as the Taiwanese research organization, ITRI, have launched the WiMax 2 Collaboration Initiative (WCI). The move is intended to accelerate interoperability of WiMax 2 systems, based upon the IEEE 802.16m standard.

IEEE 802.16m builds upon 802.16e by adding capabilities while maintaining backward compatibility. It meets the International Telecommunications Union requirements for 4G or IMT-Advanced. The standard is set to deliver peak bandwidth of 300-Mbps, lower latency and increased VoIP capacity.

The definition of the 802.16m air interface standard began in 2006 as a follow-on to 802.16e, and is expected to be completed in the second half of 2010.

The WCI group said it will work closely with the WiMax Forum to accelerate the implementation of interoperable system profiles for WiMax 2 equipment and devices with the goal of improving the economics of mobile broadband. The objectives of the group include:
Technology collaboration and joint performance benchmarking;
Joint testing of 4G applications over WiMax 2 solutions;
Early network level interoperability testing;
Plugfests to prepare for WiMax Forum certification.

"The Taiwanese device manufacturing ecosystem is already providing all manner of clients today  standalone modems, USB dongles, embedded modules for PCs, mobile Internet devices, handsets and CE devices  for Release 1 of WiMax," said Cheng-Wen Wu, a vice president at Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute. "ITRI has demonstrated great dedication to developing WiMax technology and will strongly support early commercialization of 802.16m."

The group will issue detailed milestones and delivery schedules within the next 3 to 6 months with the goal to support the WiMax Forum's readiness to certify commercial products by late 2011.